Ski binding



June 26, 1934. A. ATTENHOFER SKI BINDING Filed Nov. 10 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 26, 1934. A. ATTENHOFER 1,964,103

SKI BINDING Filed Nov. 10, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 5 w a m 7. q 2 r 7 1B 6 a h 9 6 Mm, w 0

Patented June 26, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE SKI BINDING Adolf Attenhofer,

Zurich, Switzerland 10 Claims.

This invention relates to ski bindings comprising flaps for attachment of a flexible binding means that are pivotally connected to the toe irons of the ski and adapted to be secured in position for holding the ends of the tightened binding means down on the ski.

There is a ski binding already known wherein the side flaps are adapted to be secured in position by means of screw bolts that are screwed into the toe irons. This measure permits of providing free movement for the flaps during ascending by removing the screw bolts, so that the rear part of the shoe can be slightly retracted from the ski. For descending, however, it is required that the flaps are secured in position by means of the screw bolts, in order to obtain an effective control of the ski. This ski binding is attended by the drawback that for inserting and removing the screws a good deal of time is wasted.

According to the present invention, these drawbacks are obviated by providing adjustable means which permit free movement of the flaps in one position of adjustment and prevent the flaps from movement in another position of adjustment. For increasing the yieldableness of the binding means, between at least one flap and the binding means a spring may be intercalated to permit this means to yield elastically, while the flaps are kept from moving. By virtue of the adjustable means, the flaps can be secured in position and rendered movable again in a ready manner. Due to the presence of an intervening spring between the flap and the binding means, which permits this means to yield elastically, a greater amount of resiliency is obtained for the shoe, when the flaps are secured in position, and thus avoids straining the binding means and the flaps excessively.

In the accompanying drawings two constructional forms of the invention are illustrated by way of example only, in which Fig. 1 shows an elevation of a first constructional form;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary elevation of a variant construction;

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows an elevation of another form;

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 illustrates a detail in a sectional elevation on a larger scale,

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line VIIIVIII in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a detail, and

Fig. 10 shows a section on the line X-X in Fig. 9.

In the first form of the invention illustrated in the Figs. 1 and 2 on the ski 1 two upstanding toe irons 2, each having lateral toe engaging portions 2 are secured, and to a pin 3 on each of said portions a flap 4 is pivotally connected. To the flaps d the ends of the binding strap 5 are attached by means of connecting pieces 6 and pivots '7. On a headed stud 8 of the toe iron 2, a lever 9 is mounted which can be rocked through an angular range which is limited by two stops 10 and 11. When the lever 9 assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, in which position the lever abuts against the end face of the flap 4, the latter is kept from moving as it is then held fast in a position substantially parallel to the ski 1 by the lever 9, whereby a nose 12 of the flap bears on the ski. As then the tightened binding strap 5 is allowed to merely swing about the pivot '7, when the heel of the shoe tends to recede from the ski, the tension exerted on the strap by these pivots acts in a downwardly inclined direction to the effect that the rear part of the shoe is maintained in engagement with the ski. This position of the lever 9 is particularly advantageous for the descent, as it provides effective control of the ski. On the other hand, in the position of the lever 9, as shown in chain dotted lines in Fig. 1, the flap 4 is freely movable which permits of readily lifting the rear part of the shoe, so that this position of the lever is particularly adapted for ascending.

The lever 9 provides a means for securing the flap 4 in position during the descent. It may be locked in the position of adjustment in which it bears against the end face of the flap 4, for preventing the lever from swinging out of this position unexpectedly, as well as in the other position of adjustment. This may be accomplished by offsetting the inner end portion of a lever 9' so as to provide enough space for mounting a double armed leaf spring 19 on a stud 8 between the lever 9 and the toe iron 2. The outer surface of the oiiset end of the lever 9' is provided with radial grooves for receiving corresponding raised portions 19 on the rear side of the head of the stud 8' in either position of adjustment of the lever 9', in which position the lever is thus efiectively locked by action of the spring 19.

Instead of thelever 9 other means may be provided for keeping the flap 4 from moving, for example a latch arrangement as shown in the Figs. 3 and 4. In this variant construction, a bottom portion of the toeirons is provided with a slot 20 through which a thumb piece 21 on a latch 22 projects to the underside of said bottom portion, thus guiding the latch at one end thereof. The middle part of the latch is guided by means of a slot 23 in this part cooperating with a stud 24 connected to the bottom portion of the toe iron and so as to extend through the slot 23, whereby the latch is secured against disengagement with this stud by an upper head on the latter. In the position of the latch 20, as shown in these figures, the flap 4 is secured against swinging about the pin 3 by the latch overlying the nose 12 of the flap, whereas, when the latch is shifted to its other end position by means of the thumb piece 21, the flap 4 is released for free swinging movement.

With the form of the invention, as per the Figs. 5 and 6, the stop 10 is superfluous, as the inner end position of the lever 9 is limited by the adjacent end face of the flap 4. Furthermore, a spring housing 13 is mounted on the pivot '7 of the flap 4. This housing 13 is of a cross sectional contour similar to an oblong rectangle and includes a compression spring 14 which abuts with one of its ends against an inwardly turned flange 15 of the housing 13 and with the other end against a disc 17 secured to a tension member 16. This member 16 is provided on its end projecting out of the housing 13 with an eyelet 18 for engagement with the binding strap 5. In the drawings the flaps on both sides of the ski are shown to be provided with housings 13 and springs 14, the spring associated with the inner flap being longer than that connected to the outer flap in order to leave more space available for manipulation with the strap tightener.

It is evident that instead of providing two springs, one for each side of the ski, only one side flap, for example the inner flap, may be associated with a spring.

Where spring means are employed in the ski binding, the binding strap of leather may be replaced by another flexible but entirely unyielding binding means such as a cable or the like.

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number or arrangement of parts as shown and described, all of which may be varied without going beyond the scope of my invention as shown, described and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe longitudinally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, and adjusting means associated with said pivotal flaps for selectively releasing said flaps or securing the same with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold the ends of said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively.

2. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, spring means for increasing the yieldableness of said flexible binding means inserted between at least one end or" said means and the adjacent flap, and adjusting means associated with said pivotal flaps for selectively releasing said flaps or securing the same with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordanoe with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold the ends of said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively.

3. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, and an adjustable lever arm pivoted to each of said toe irons and adapted to remain clear of the respective pivotal flap in one position of adjustment or to abut against the adjacent end of said flap in the other position of adjustment, for thus securing said flaps with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold the ends of said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively.

4. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, an adjustable lever arm pivoted to each of said toe irons and adapted to remain clear of the respective pivotal flap in one position of adjustment or to abut against the adjacent end of said flap in the other position of adjustment, for thus securing said flaps with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold the ends of said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively,

and means for locking said lever arms in the position of adjustment wherein they abut against the adjacent ends of said flaps.

5. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, a nose on each flap adapted to rest against the ski, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, and a latch arranged on each toe iron to be adjustable in substantially parallel disposition to the ski and adapted to remain clear of said nose on the respective pivotal flap in one position of adjustment and to overlie said nose in the other position of adjustment, for thus securing said flaps with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, a spring for increasing the yieldableness or" said flexible binding means inserted between at least one end of said means and the adjacent flap, a housing including said spring and attached to the flap adjacent thereto, and adjusting means associated with said pivotal flaps for selectively releasing said flaps or securing the same with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold the ends of said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively.

7. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, a compression spring for increasing the yieldableness of said flexible binding means inserted between at least one end of said means and the adjacent flap, a housing including said spring with the spring end adjoining the respective end of said binding means abutting against said housing, and the latter being attached to the respective flap adjacent thereto, a tension member attached to the respective end of said binding means and protruding into said spring housing to the other end of said spring and adapted to grip behind that spring end, and adjusting means associated with said pivotal flaps for selectively releasing said flaps or securing the same with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold the ends of said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively. I

8. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, a spring of a flattened cross sectional contour for increasing the ,yieldableness of said flexible binding means inserted between at least one end of said means and the adjacent flap, a housing of a corresponding cross sectional shape including said spring and. attached to the flap adjacent thereto, and adjusting means associated with said pivotal flaps for selectively releasing said flaps or securing the same with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold the ends of said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively.

9. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means intercalated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, a compression spring for increasing the yieldableness of said flexible binding means inserted between at least one end of said means and the adjacent flap, a housing inclosing said spring and attached to the flap adjacent thereto, an inturned flange provided at the end of said housing adjoining the respective end of said binding means, the respective spring end abutting against said inturned flange, a tension member attached to the respective end of said binding means and protruding into said spring housing to the other end of said spring and adapted to grip behind that spring end, and adjusting means associated with said pivotal flaps for selectively releasing said flaps or securing the same with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order, to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold the ends or" said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively.

10. In a ski binding of the type described, in combination with a ski, of upstanding toe irons, a flexible binding means for fastening the shoe laterally of the ski to said toe irons, a pair of flaps for attachment of said binding means interca ated between the ends of this means and said toe irons, pivot joints provided between said flaps and said toe irons, a spring for increasing the yieldableness of said flexible binding means inserted between each end of said means and said flaps, the spring on the inner side of the ski be ing longer than that on the outer side thereof, and adjacent means associated with said pivotal flaps for selectively releasing said flaps or securing the same with their end portions to which the binding means is attached in a lowered position, in order to adapt said flaps to rock freely about said pivots in accordance with the pull exerted thereon by said binding means or to hold ie ends of said tightened binding means down on the ski respectively.

ADOLF ATTENHOFER.

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